Natural Antidepressants II
St. John's Wort II
St. John's Wort Side
Effects.
St. John's Wort.
Depression and nerve pain has been treated for
centuries with the natural remedy St. John’s Wort. St. John’s Wort
was used in ancient times as a malaria treatment, a sedative, and
a balm for insect bites, wounds and burns. Today,
depression, anxiety and sleep disorders are treated with a high
degree of effectiveness with St. John’s Wort. St. John’s Wort is
also useful for treating the symptoms of PMS and seasonal
affective disorder (depression in the winter months caused by a
lack of sunshine).
St. John’s Wort has been tested in Europe for decades but it has
only become well known in the United States fairly recently. In
Germany, doctors prescribe St. John’s Wort more often than the
popular prescription drugs Zoloft and Prozac. Insurance companies
also cover the cost of the remedy. In the United states, St.
John’s Wort can be purchased as an herbal remedy. More and more
Americans are using St. John’s Wort as news of its effectiveness
spreads. Currently, St. John’s Wort is among the top-selling
herbal products in the United States.
Recently, scientists have shown evidence that supports the
usefulness of St. John’s Wort for the treatment of mild to
moderate depression. In twenty three studies, St. John’s Wort was
shown to be significantly more effective than placebo in treating
mild to moderate depression. Unlike pharmacuetical
antidepressants, St. John’s Wort has few side effects. (Linde et
al. British Medical Journal, 1996).
Some people turn to the natural remedy, St. John’s Wort, because
they have experienced no relief from their depression when using
conventional antidepressants. Others turn to St. John’s Wort when
side effects of conventional antidepressants such as Prozac, Paxil
and Zoloft become severe.
Some other benefits of St. John’s Wort are that it can alleviate
pain, calm nervous tension and anxiety, and treat neuralgia. When
used as a poultice or liniment, St. John’s Wort can relieve the
pain of rheumatism, neuralgia and sciatica. In addition, St.
John’s Wort can be used to treat mental burnout and chronic
fatigue syndrome as well as controlling viral infections and tumor
growth. St. John’s Wort is also great for cleansing and purifying
the blood.
Some studies have shown that St. John’s Wort
works by blocking the nerve cells in the brain from reabsorbing
serotonin, a chemical that gives a person happy, good feelings.
St. John’s Wort may also work by decreasing the protein levels
used in the immune system.
St. John’s Wort is an herb that contains many chemical compounds,
including hypericin and hyperforin. Hypericin works by inhibiting
a chemical associated with depression called monoamine oxidase.
Hypericin does not act alone; however, many components work
together in a complex interplay to help combat depression. When
patients with depression take St. John’s Wort, their appetite
returns, they experience a greater sense of self-esteem, an
increase in interest in activities, and a return to normal
sleeping patterns.
If you are pregnant, you should not take St. John’s Wort because
it has not been been tested on pregnant women and its effects on
the fetus. In addition, you should ask your doctor before taking
St. John’s Wort if you are HIV positive, have heart problems, or
other medical conditions. Furthermore, St. John’s Wort should not
be used in cases of severe depression.
Overall, St. John’s Wort can be used for a variety of ailments
from depression and pain to bleeding problems and bladder
problems. St. John’s Wort has been studied and findings indicate
that the herbal remedy is both safe and effective. In addition,
recent studies have demonstrated that St. John’s Wort may have
fewer side effects than conventional medications for depression.
It is important to carefully investigate antidepressants and their
side effects, along with exploring alternatives like natural
antidepressants when looking for
depression relief. A therapeutic strategy involving natural
antidepressants is at
the discretion of the individual and their health care provider.
In all cases of clinical depression, always seek a your health
care provider's guidance first.
Deprex, an effective natural antidepressant
formulation, contains St. John's Wort along with many
other ingredients shown effective as natural antidepressants. Deprex is much more powerful than any one ingredient by itself.
Deprex naturally and effectively enhances serotonin levels within
the body and brain – without side effects.
